Motherwell and Hamilton Accies Under 20s shared the spoils in an entertaining goalless draw at New Douglas Park tonight.
The Steelmen had to dig in deep at times as the home side applied a lot pressure.
However, the visitors would finish well and only two late saves and the width of the crossbar would deny Jonatan Johansson’s men all three points.
The Finn would make just one change to the side that lost narrowly to Kilmarnock seven days ago with David Ferguson dropping out and Craig Moore returning to the side in attack.
It was a fairly even start with both sides training chances.
Spanish defender Jesús García Tena fired a free-kick a foot or so over the bar and, down the other end, Steven Higgins weaved his way through two challenges but his shot was straight at Blair Currie.
The home side were seeing a fair bit of the ball but it was ‘Well who would threaten next. Jack Leitch teed up Dale Shirkie on the edge of the area, but his first-time shot ballooned over the bar.
Play was raging from end to end and only a last ditch Morgyn Neill header prevented Andy Ryan from scoring at the expense of a corner. The resulting kick from the quadrant led to a chance for Jaison McGrath at the back post but his low shot was saved well by the feet of Stewart.
Motherwell’s reply was a Euan Murray header that flashed wide in what was a whirlwind opening twenty minutes.
But as the half wore on, the hosts gained the upper hand and dominated the play for the last fifteen minutes. They passed up four quick-fire chances within three minutes, Louis Longridge (twice), Eamonn Brophy and Ryan all had efforts either wide, over or saved by Stewart.
Just before the break, left full-back Colin Granger brought out another good stop from Stewart after a sweeping Accies move across the pitch.
The Motherwell ‘keeper would start the second period much as he finished the first, saving in spectacular style. This time he would deny Brophy after the front man had got behind Neill. Longridge followed that with a darting low shot that was again saved by Stewart.
‘Well’s first shot on target in the second period came just before the hour mark when Craig Moore collected a Murray pass on the edge of the area, but his turn and shot presented few problems for Currie.
That effort had came after Brophy had another chance to score, creating space for himself with some neat wide play, only to drag his low shot wide of Stewart’s far post.
Johansson’s men had to survive another Accies onslaught 25 minutes from time when they had two shots just wide. In between, there was an almighty scramble in the area with the Fir Parkers having to defend with all sorts of last-ditch blocks and tackles.
But, as time ticked away, Motherwell came more and more into things and would finish strongly.
The start of it was a piercing counter attack, Thomas rolling in Higgins on the left flank only for the forward to watch on as Currie tipped his curling effort just wide.
Moore flicked a Murray cross over the bar before Paul McCafferty came within an inch of grabbing his first of the campaign. A quick corner eventually worked its way to the little winger on the edge of the area. He teed himself up with a nice touch before drilling a shot which cannoned back off Currie’s crossbar with the keeper beaten all ends up.
Then, with four minutes to go, Dom Thomas must have thought he had scored with a stinging shot only for Currie to get a super hand to it, to turn it over the bar.
It was the last action of a swashbuckling local derby with a point just about fair. The Under 20s now go into their mini winter shutdown and are not back in action for a month.
Motherwell: Stewart, Cadden (Ferguson 42mins), Murray, Cummins, Neill, Leitch, McCafferty, Shirkie, Moore, Thomas, Higgins
Subs Not Used: McCall, Anderson, Hall, Currie
Photography: Craig Foy
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